praying & believing :)

I never thought I would be writing this post, but here I am. I wanted to do this post to ask for your prayers. I believe firmly in the body of Christ praying for each other and I believe God hears our cries. 

A few weeks ago, my Mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. It was a really big shock, but praise the Lord that it is in the lowest stage possible. My mom is going into surgery in the morning (July 13th) and I am writing this with confidence believing that our God is healer and awesome in power.

I am having the best summer, but this has definitely been hard to deal with and especially hard because I am in Wyoming and she is in Alabama. While it has been hard, I have definitely been learning through it. I was not originally planning on coming to Wyoming. I applied to a camp in Georgia and was dead set that that was is where I was supposed to be this be this summer. Little did I know, God had a different plan. I found out in April that I didn't get the job and had no idea what to do. I prayed about it and decided to come to Wyoming and I am so excited that I did! I have had so much fun and I am so glad that I have been able to be with my sweet friends all summer. 

It's so hard to hear that someone you love so much has cancer and on top of that being so far away and feeling so helpless. I have had days where my heart has ached to be at home with her. There has been many times that I have wanted to fly home for a few days, but it would just be too expensive to buy a round trip ticket. On these days I know that all I can do is rest in the Lord's faithfulness and trust that He is going to take care of her. 

The Lord has been so sweet to me and I truly believe He prepared me this spring semester. I learned a lot through different situations of His faithfulness and He spoke to me a lot, "Never will I leave you nor forsake you." While the Lord was teaching me this, I had this feeling that something was going to happen in the future where I was going to need to cling to this. The day my mom called me to tell me the news, it hit me... the Lord was preparing me for this all along! 

SO, while this has not been the easiest journey, I know I can confidently say that He is good and faithful and there's no changing that! Nothing, not even cancer can separate us from the love of Christ! I am so blessed that I KNOW this HOPE and that I am not alone. 

If you would have told me a few months ago that I would be sitting in Wyoming writing a blog post about my mom having cancer, I would have looked at you like you were crazy. BUT, the Lord's plan is perfect and here I am! Thanks for reading this and allowing me to share my heart! 

These verses have been especially close to me lately:

"So, do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."  -Isaiah 41:10

"The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged."  -Deuteronomy 31:8

- Laurel :)